Tank closure



' Aug/17,1926.

. J. ADAMS TANK CLOSURE Y Filed Feb. e, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. ADAMS TANK CLOSURE Aug. 17 1926.

. 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1925 81 wuzwtoo Guam -isa

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,596,858 PATENT OFFICE.

Jenn Aniuvrs, or YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'ro ALFRED Me curi- LOUGI-I, QF'YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

TANK CLOSURE.

Application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,316.

This invention relates to portable gas tanks or containers and similar devices, the purpose being to provide an easily removed or detachable cap or protection for the valve in the head of a portable tank.

- Ordinarily, this cap is screwed on to the neck of what may be termed the collar rigidly and firmly attached to the head of the tank.

These tanks, in handling, are subject to very rough usage, and often receive very severe blows on the outer end of the cap, and it is the usual practice to provide the cap with a reinforcing boss or knob as an additional protection against damage.

Frequently, also, such rough usage re sults in bruising or mutilating the threads between the cap and the neck of the collar upon which it is screwed. Also, when allowed to stand any considerable length of time, these threads become more or less rusty and sealed together.

It is obvious that as the result of this, it naturally becomes very difficult, and frequently impossible, to remove the cap, making it necessary to break it off with a hammer or sledge, and thereby necessitating the renewal of the collar and cap.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a construction by which the cap and collar can be easily connected and disconnected through the medium of associated holding springs and engaging lugs. v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 fragmentary view in section, showing the collar attached to the upper end of the tank and the cap attached to the collar.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the collar with a fragmentary view of the cap in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 8-3 Figure 1.

Figure a is a side elevation of the collar, similar to Figure 2, with a fragmentary View of the cap in juxtaposition therewith and ready to be slipped over the neck of the collar.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a collar, showing a slightly modified form of engagement.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 66 Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in section on line 7-7 Figure 5, showing the cap adjusted over the neck of the collar.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in section, showing the present method of attaching the cap to the collar.

In the drawings, T represents, the tank. 1 represents the collar, which in Figure 1 is. shown attached to the tank, and 2 the cap, which in Figure 1 is shown attached to the collar. by means of my invention. The neck 4; of the collar is provided with the oppositely disposed recesses 5, relatively narrow at the upper end, as at 6, but wider below as at 7 (see Figure 1), thus providing the shoulder 8 for the, purpose hereinafter explained.

Communicating with recess 5 is the horizontal groove 9, within which is seated the spring 10 securedby the screw 11. i

The inner face of the wall of the cap is provided with the oppositely disposed lugs 12, tapered at the lower end as at 13, Figure 4.

It is obvious that as the cap 2 is pressed downwardly over the neck 4 of the collar 1, the tapered end 13 of the lug 12, which registers in the narrow section 6 of the slot 5, will engage the spring 10, forcing it inwardly and permitting the. cap tobe pushed downwardly until the upper end 14- of the lug 12 passes below the horizontal plane of shoulder 8 formed by the upper wall of recess 5, after which the cap may be turned on the neck of the collar so that the upper end 1 1 of the lug 12 will engage the shoulder 8, and the free end of sprin 10, by assuming its normal position, wiil come into engagement with the side of the lug 12, thus preventing the cap from turning, and holding the same securely attached to the collar 1.

To unlock this engagement for the pur-. pose of removing the cap, a simple key or properly devised instrument is inserted in the hole 15 in the wall of the cap, by means of which the free end of spring 10 may be forced inwardly and away from engagement with the lug 12, thus permitting the cap to be turned until the lug 12 comes in alignment with the narrow portion 6 of the recess 5, after which the cap may be readily lifted off.

As already suggested, Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a slightly modified interlocking engagement between lug 12, recess 5 and spring 10. As shown in Figure 5, recess 5 in the neck 4 of collar 1 is of uniform width throughout, and probably may be properly termed a groove rather than a recess, and the horizontal groove 9 extends across the perpendicular plane of the recess or groove 5, which also forms the shoulder 8, and the free end 16 of spring 10 is extended to en gage the shoulder 8. In this connection the lug 12 on the inside of the cap isshortened or formed lower on the wall of the cap, so that its upper end 14: will come below the lower edge 17 of the spring 10.

It is obvious that with this construction, when the cap it pushed down over the neck of the collar until the upper end 14 of the lug 12 passes below the lower edge 17 of the spring 10, the spring, by assuming its normal position, will come into engagement with the upper end of the lug, thus preventing the cap from coming 0E. Also, the shoulder 8, formed by the horizontal groove 9, reinforces the resistance of spring 10 against the pressure of lug 12.

g I claim: 7 r

1. In combination with a tank, a collar rigidly secured thereto and having an upstanding neck member provided in its outer face with a perpendicular recess, a horizontal groove crossing said recess, a spring secured at one end in said groove and having its free end adapted to engage the upper 'wall of the groove at the opposite side of the recess as a holding shoulder, and a ca member provlded on its inner face, and a acent 1ts open end, with a lug adapted to register in the recess in the neck, and to be engaged by the lower edge of said spring.

2. In combination with a tank, a collar rigidly secured thereto and having an upstandingneck member provided in its outer face with a perpendicular recess, a horizontal groove crossing said recess, a spring secured at one end in said groove and having its free end adapted to engage the upper wall'of the groove at the opposite side of the recess as a holding shoulder, and a cap member provided on its inner face, and adjacent its open end, with a lug'ada'pted to register in the recess in the neck, and to come into automatic locking engagement with the lower edge of said sprin In combination with a tank, a collar rigidly secured thereto and having an upstanding neck member provided in its outer face with a perpendicular recess, a horizontal groove crossing said recess, a spring secured at one end in said groove and having its free end adapted to engage the upper wall of said groove at the opposite side of said recess as a holding shoulder, and a cap member provided in its inner face, and adjacent its open end, with a lug adapted to register in the recess in the neck. and to come into secure locking engagement with the loweredge of said spring without rotation or other movement. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

I 7 JOHN ADAMS. 

